Annie Nicholas - Catch

“Can you take me to see Colby?”

“Why?” Her eyebrows rose and she jerked her head back as if I’d slapped her.

I glanced in both directions down the hallway and gestured for her to come inside my room.

The door closed behind her as she came in.

“I’m not sure he’s guilty.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think. Tane will be judge, jury and executioner on this m—matter.” She closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped a bit. A tear slipped out.

“Gwen, what the hell is going on? Do you know Colby?”

She shook her head and stayed silent.

“You think he’s innocent too.”

Her facial expression went blank as if she applied a mask. “Doesn’t matter what I think or feel. My loyalty remains with the pack.” It sounded as if she tried to convince herself more than me. “I had a moment of personal weakness at the hotel and almost betrayed all my beliefs. It won’t happen again.” She turned to leave the room, but I grabbed her elbow.

“Doing something right is not weak, ignoring your instincts is.” I came around to watch her face. “What do they tell you?”

“They tell me confusing things and I can’t make heads or tails of them.” She hung her head.

“Sounds as if you have some questions of your own for Colby.”

She nodded. “My brother is guarding him.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “He’ll let us in.

Follow me.” Leading me out of the mansion, through the gardens and back into the wild jungle to the side of the mountain not far from where we’d found the body, Gwen brought me to a cave.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I peered into the dark entrance, imagining large spiders and slithering creepy crawlers.

“This place is very old. My father told me this was Tane’s original home.”

“Why am I not shocked?” My skin itched at the thought of going in there. “How deep do we have to go?”

Gwen lifted a flashlight from her belt and turned it on. “A ways.” Without waiting, she went inside, ducking to avoid the low ceiling.

For once, being short paid off. I fit better in these tight quarters than my werewolf guard.

She slowed her pace to allow me to catch up. “Stay close. The path is clear, but not marked. I don’t want you to make a wrong turn.”

Pressed to Gwen’s back, I whispered. “How many other secrets do you know?”

Glancing over her shoulder, she gave me a small smile. “Many. Now, be quiet.” Her cryptic statement only confirmed how little I knew about my new life with Rurik…and Tane.

One day would I be leading some naïve girl through these caves answering similar questions? My future held endless possibilities and loomed ahead like a map drawn by a blind man. It made no sense.

Gwen brought us to a metal door set into the stone and used a skeleton key to unlock it.

A furred monstrous head popped out.

A shrill, high-pitched scream split the still air in the cave until I ran out of breath. It echoed as I sucked in a lung of air.

Both the beast and Gwen stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

It stepped through the doorway to crowd the cave as it stooped against the stone roof.

Long, sharp claws extended from its fingers and toes, which clicked on the floor. Brown thick fur covered its bipedal body. Leaning forward its blue eyes regarded me with intelligence.

Every muscle seized in terror and I couldn’t move.

“For something so small you sure can make a big noise.” The beast spoke clear English.

Gwen chuckled behind him and it was definitely a him. He didn’t wear any clothes to hide the fact. “You’re her first werewolf in beast form.”

“A virgin, my favorite kind of snack.” His tongue lolled to the side of his mouth as he gave a wolfish grin. “Is this Tane’s Rabbit?”

“Yes.” She smacked him on the haunch. “This scruffy dog is my brother, Kam. He’s guarding the prisoner.” Her smile faded as she regarded me. “You can stick your eyes back in their sockets now.”

Blood returned to my head and rushed to my cheeks. I couldn’t help my initial reaction. No one had prepared me.

Gwen faced her brother. “Who’s with you?”

“We’re spread pretty thin, sis. I’m by myself. Why do you think I’m in this form?

Heard he kicked your ass and almost killed Jacob.”

I found my voice, but it sounded a couple octaves too high. “Who’s Jacob?”

“The other guard set in your hotel room last night.” She petted Kam’s fur. “Why don’t you go stretch your legs, I’ll keep an eye on him.”

He glanced from her to me and back again. “I want him in the same condition when I get back. No missing appendages or anything.”

“Just a few questions.” She smiled sweetly.

“Did you notice he smells funny?” The werewolf stepped around me. My body still hadn’t recovered from the shock. It couldn’t move yet.

“Yes.” Gwen twisted to enter the room.

The beast stepped closer and smelled my hair. “You smell like prey, Rabbit.” Then snapped his jaws.

I bound through the doorway in a massive adrenaline induced leap, running Gwen over.

She spun around. “Kam, behave.”

His echoing laughter answered her.

“He won’t hurt you. He’s just an ass.” She stepped next to me, her words barely registering.

I stood in the middle of a small cavern. The walls decorated with empty manacles and stained with old blood. Torches burnt in scions, their smoke clouding the ceiling.

Chained to the far wall hung Colby. His wrists and ankles bound by thick metal. The firelight flickered in his glare.

It took a moment or two before my thoughts cohered into something intelligent.

What should I start with? How ya doing? Didn’t sound right. A purple bruise covered his left cheek where Tane had punched him. The swelling reached his eye and lips.

I took a few steps closer before Gwen stopped me with a hand to my shoulder.

Conflicting emotions warred inside. I wanted to hit and hug him at the same time.

“Dumbass.” The insult blurted out. I didn’t know if I meant him or me.

Colby’s green eyes flared and he strained at his restraints. “Bitch!”

The cold, calculating person I associated with my ex-boss wasn’t present. I’d never seen Colby lose his cool before.

That’s not true…on Tane’s yacht he had flipped out. He’d been chained to a wall then too, also under Tane’s care. A shiver coursed down my spine as I remembered how ruthless the Nosferatu could be.

Would I be any less crazed if Luckard caught and chained me again?

I had reasons for hating Tane. They’d faded over the past few days, but this resurfaced some of them.

“I never asked you to come to my hotel room.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I strengthened my resolve to confront him without caving into tears.

Colby growled from deep inside his chest.

I sensed Gwen tense next to me.

“How can you be helping them, Connie?” The frustration in his voice ebbed.

“You’re human and working for the wrong team.”

“You tried to kill me.” I stomped my foot like a five year old, his accusation hit close to my own thoughts, and all my resolved vanished. Tears welled in my eyes.

My statement stopped him. His stunned expression told me all I needed to know. “It wasn’t him, Gwen.”

“How?” He repeated the same question from the hotel room.

“An assassin shot wooden cross bolts from a tree while Tane and I were outside two nights ago. The same night you came to the mansion with the team. One of the cross bolts almost shot me. If Tane hadn’t taken it for me, I’d be dead as a doornail.” I watched his eyes for any signs of guilt and only saw confusion. “Tane saw you running in the jungle with the weapon in your hands.”